Approximate assessment of the operational performances of an unmanned aerial vehichle according to its flight data

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the substantiation of the complex parameter that characterizes the technical level of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This parameter includes the maximum lift-to-drag ratio, propeller efficiency, specific fuel consumption, and other components, on which the main flight characteristics, such as flight range and flight duration, depend. To make a comparative assessment of UAVs of different types, a special scale is developed.

First published online: 14 January 2016

Keyword : UAV, lift-to-drag ratio, specific fuel consumption, propeller efficiency, flight range, flight duration, relative stock of fuel, target load, cruising speed, economizing speed